SUSAN LEONHARD

MEDIUM

Painting

ARTIST STATEMENT

“I believe the ocean has a naturally calming effect on us. My paintings take us on a journey below the surface of the water to experience the surreal beauty and peaceful mystique of the ocean.”

ARTIST BIO

Susan Leonhard is best known for her contemporary series of underwater paintings. The inspiration for this series began in 2014 while snorkeling at Ke’e Beach on Kauai, where she envisioned a series of large paintings focusing solely on the beauty of the water itself. Her goal was to capture the reflective light on the ocean floor and the transparency of the water using various perspectives. Susan’s collectors describe her water paintings as both vibrant and serene. The reflections are mesmerizing and pull the viewer into the depths, creating a mystique and the illusion of floating beneath the surface of the water.

Susan began oil painting at age 10, following three generations of artists in her family. Her journey began with painting traditional landscapes and continued for more than 40 years, eventually leading her to her contemporary water paintings.

Susan lives in Laguna Hills and exhibits at “A Gallery Fine Art” in Palm Desert, Hanalei Art Gallery in Kauai and Dana Gallery, Dana Point. Her paintings are found in homes and businesses across the U.S. as well as internationally. She has permanent exhibits in St. Joseph Hospital, Burbank, California and Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, California. Her work has been featured in publications including; Palm Springs Life, L.A. Travel Magazine & Gladys Magazine. She also enjoys working with Laguna Beach Art Tours, participating in painting demonstrations at corporate events at the Montage in Laguna Beach.

Susan is a member of The American Society of Marine Artists.